State of Oregon Archives: on Abortion

Monica Wehby:
Abortion is a personal choice

Wehby has said the government shouldn't be involved in same-sex marriage and abortion is a personal choice.

"We already have a Democratic senator, we don't need another one," [her primary opponent] Conger said. "No Republican candidate will win by
being more of a Democrat than a Democrat." Conger opposes abortion

Wehby believes she could pull women voters and independents into her camp because the "normal attacks" used against Republicans like the "war on women" would be ineffective against her.

Source: Statesman Journal on 2014 Oregon Senate debate
Mar 9, 2014

Jim Huffman:
Pro-choice but Roe v. Wade was a bad decision

Wyden charged Huffman had contradictory positions on abortion. Huffman told people in Western Oregon that he was pro-choice on abortion, said Wyden, but in Eastern Oregon, Huffman said the Supreme Court made a bad decision in legalizing abortion with its
1973 landmark ruling on Roe vs. Wade. Huffman replied that was not a contradiction.

"You can be pro-choice and still believe Roe vs. Wade is a bad decision," said Huffman, who taught constitutional law.

Jim Huffman:
Supports abortion rights, but no federal funding

Huffman, who has taught constitutional law for 37 years at Lewis & Clark Law School, where he also served as dean, says he's socially moderate and fiscally conservative.
He supports abortion rights, though no federal funding for abortion, and civil unions for gay couples. He says he differs most fundamentally from Wyden in his view that government should have a limited role in American lives.

Source: Oregon Live coverage of 2010 Oregon Senate Debate
Oct 8, 2010

Jim Huffman:
Pro-choice, but issue has corrupted politics

Huffman says that the abortion issue has "corrupted American politics for way too long" and that it is so difficult because, unlike most individual rights cases, it pits the rights of two individuals--the mother and the unborn--against each other.
If forced into one camp or the other, he says he would be characterized as pro-choice.

Jeff Merkley:
Public funding for stem cell research

Requires committee to develop guidelines for research involving derivation or use
of human stem cells.

Establishes Human Stem Cell Research Grant Fund.

Authorizes committee to seek private and public contributions for purpose of funding research grants from fund.

Continuously appropriates moneys in fund to Department of Human Services for purposes of Act.

Imposes penalties for failure to obtain written informed consent from donor prior to donation and use of human egg or sperm cell for research.

Directs committee to study nature of informed consent provided and to make recommendations to Governor & Legislative Assembly.

Source: Oregon State Legislative Voting Records
Jun 21, 2007

Winona LaDuke:
Supports a woman’s right to choose

Winona Laduke believes strongly in many things. She believes it’s a woman’s right to choose whether or not to have an abortion. “ I see a lot of men talking about what women should do with their bodies, but not women”, she said.

Source: U-wire article, “Native Week at Oregon State”
May 23, 2000

Winona LaDuke:
Choice means quality of life for low-income families

LaDuke said that men are concerned with the idea of freedom of choice, but the ones in power do not work to take care of the children that have already been born, providing quality health care for low income families,
making sure children receive the child support they need and health care above all.

Source: U-wire article, “Native Week at Oregon State”
May 23, 2000

Jeff Merkley:
Abortions should always be legally available

Merkley supports the following principles regarding abortion:

Abortions should always be legally available.

Support “buffer zones” by requiring demonstrators to stay at least 15 feet away from abortion clinic doorways and driveways.